Mumbai, India (CNN) — At least 13 people were killed and more than 100 others injured today in a series of explosions that rocked congested areas of India’s financial capital, Mumbai, according to Prithviraj Chavan, the state’s chief minister.
Chavan said it was too early to talk about suspects but at least one of the blasts was “quite powerful.” He warned the death toll could rise.
The blasts occurred within minutes of one another in the areas of Dadar, Opera House and Zaveri Bazar, all busy commercial hubs that were teeming with people in the evening rush hour. They brought back bad memories in a city that has suffered terrorist attacks before, including the 2008 assault by Pakistani gunmen that killed 164 people in November 2008.
Authorities immediately appealed for calm as residents voiced anger at the government because their city has been a repeated target for terror.
“The entire city of Mumbai has been placed on high alert,” Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said at a news conference. “I would appeal to the people of Mumbai to remain calm and maintain the peace.”
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He said investigative teams have been dispatched to Mumbai.
As in past attacks, the blasts occurred in crowded, vulnerable areas.
